I no longer heard the rain and thunder, no longer saw lightning as it flashed across the sky. It was as if we were alone in the world the stranger and I. And before I knew it, he was drawing me down on the bed beside him. Pictures of color unfolded behind my closed lids. Scenes I did not recall and had no memory of.
I did not know whose memories they were and had no understanding of why I should be seeing them now. Or why they seemed so real.
I knew my godmother had the gift of sight, but had no idea that I too may have been blessed with that same phenomenon. But how else could I explain the strange happenings?
I got drawn deeper into the kiss, the scenes that played out in my mind blending fantasy with the here and now, until I became lost.
I told myself that I should pull away, but somehow the warmth of his lips felt right and something, some distant memory, flashed in the back of my mind as his tongue licked across my lips as if seeking entrance.
The intimate feeling was so jarring and touched my senses so forcefully that I did not think to pull away, but instead followed the path of his tongue as it played peekaboo with my lips.
As his arm came down from my nape to hold me about the shoulders, something like a bright flash of color burst in my head and I was once again transported to another place, another time.
There was a beautiful garden, and he stood there, his hand out stretched as if waiting for something or someone. It felt so real as if I were there, looking on at the scene from some hidden place.
I saw a puppy and a young girl whose face was turned so I could not see, but I knew her. Did I know her? So real, as real as the feel of his kiss.
I was so caught up in the vision that I missed him rolling his body completely onto mine, pinning me beneath him on the bed. I should stop this, should awaken him from his fever infused dreams which I was sure were responsible for his actions.
But for the barest of seconds it felt so right being there beneath him. Like it was meant to be. Outside thunder rolled across the sky as the rain and the wind picked up. But inside, I was safe. Safe in his arms.
“Princess!” The whispered word jarred another memory but it was gone before I caught it, and now I was too caught up in the game he played with his tongue as it teased open my lips and came inside.
I felt his hand as it moved over me, almost reverently, as if learning my body as he went. His lips never left mine and the kiss grew hotter, wilder, banishing any thoughts that mat still linger, of turning away.
Then his hand came down between us and opened up my thighs. I felt his warm hand pressed against my private place, unleashing a brand new set of feelings inside. And that too felt right.
I was caught in a place between dream and reality. The more he touched the more I imagined and as his hands travelled over my body as he whispered in my ear, it became harder to separate what was real from what was not.
I argued with myself for all of two seconds but in the end I was no match for the strength he used to spread my legs open wider and settle between them finally.
I heard the tearing of my underthings and felt cool air there between my thighs before it was replaced with heat. His fingers drove into me as his tongue played with my lips before sinking back in again and I was lost.
Emperor Jai
I was dreaming. I knew it was a dream because I opened my eyes and Mia was there. I touched her, for the first time in too many years and her flesh felt so real. So warm and alive beneath my hands.
I grabbed her around the nape before she could escape me, dying for the feel of her after all this time. I pulled her head down to mine, stealing the kiss that we never got to share when she was here in my world with me.
Time and reality moved and blended with the dream as I pulled her down next to me and rolled, pinning her body beneath mine.
My body felt hot as if I burned with a fever, but the heat of her touch burned even more. I whispered her name over and over, ‘Mia, Princess.’ I thought I heard her voice but it was soon lost in our kiss.
Her body felt real, warm, alive, as I moved my hands over her. I ripped away her underclothing in my haste to reach her. My heart thundered in my chest, my beautiful Mia. If this was the only way I could have her, then so be it. I’d rather stay here, lost in the dream than return to a world without her in it.
With my eyes closed my hand moved up towards the swell of a plump breast. Again I heard the loud tearing of cloth in the otherwise quiet room and then there was nothing between her flesh and my palm.
I squeezed and fondled, until the nipple formed a hard bead, before letting my hand travel lower for a more pleasant delight, while my head lowered to her morsel.
She made a sound that was drowned out by the wind and thunder outside. In here we were cocooned in warmth as my mind went between the dream and wakefulness.
I felt the warmth of her body beneath my hands, my fingers sunk into the heat between her thighs and my heart sang at being this close to my Mia finally.
In my head reality was no more as I gave myself up to the dream. The dream that was better than any reality I’d ever had so far. She moved beneath my fingers as I played in her mouth with my tongue. A game of hide and go seek.
A loud boom of thunder crashed outside and lightning flashed illuminating the room. The body beneath mine stirred and I rolled myself completely between her thighs.
My eyes flew open and I looked down into the most amazing eyes I’d ever seen. I remember those eyes. “Princess, Mia…” I covered her lips with mine before she could answer and with my hand between us, led my cock into her warmth.
I rocked into her body and felt the resistance there before she yelped at the pain of losing her virginity. I covered her lips and took her scream into my lungs as my cock tried to force its way past her tight folds and deeper into her soft silky flesh.
She cupped me like a glove what there was of my cock that I could fit inside her. She was small and tight and felt so amazing wrapped around my cock.
How could a dream be so poignant? How am I feeling her? How can sensations I never experienced before, being myself a virgin, be so real? My body knew what to do, it followed my heart.
This was my Mia, my most precious one, so of course in dream or wake, I would handle her with care. Our hands moved over each other as she pulled me in closer.
There was no longer any resistance between us, she was open, accepting, as I thrust into her body more forcefully with each stroke of my cock inside her.
I no longer cared that it was just a dream, I could stay here forever like this, with her and never let her go. I never want to wake up, never want to lose her again.
I whispered all these things and more in her ear as our bodies moved together in wild abandon. I licked and nibbled my way down her body as far as I could reach without pulling my cock from her body’s warmth.
Her nipples were hard on my tongue as I suckled and bit them until she cried out. Each time I nipped her flesh, her cunt would squeeze and tighten around my cock flesh, making me grow harder with need.
It felt better than anything my teachers had described when awakening my senses as a young man to the pleasures of the flesh.
Things I’d laughed at behind my hands, though my body stirred from the scenes depicted in the art used to educate, now made sense.
But the reality, though it was nothing more than a dream was much better than anything described or imagined.
This feeling of wild elation and a love so strong that even the strongest emotion, when compared fell flat. It was because it was her, I knew. I would never feel this with anyone else, would never want to.
I felt the tears on my cheek, hers and mine. I cried because I knew I must awaken and she would be gone. I cried because we never got to share this most beautiful thing while she was alive.
I cried because the ache that was left in my very soul will never be erased. And as I emptied my seed inside her, I cried because my beloved will never bear me a son.
I fel
l asleep on top of the warm body, my mind floating away on the wings of the dream. Somewhere in my fevered brain I wondered how the wind and the rain could seem so real and yet I be caught in a dream.
And then, just as I was falling into sleep she cried out at a loud boom of thunder that shook the structure. It seemed so real as she burrowed into me until my arms went around her and only then did she settle and I too was able to surrender to slumber.
NARRATOR
As the fever raged on inside him throughout the night, clouding his mind between sleep and wake, Emperor Jai turned to the warm body next to his time and time again.
Bryony, lost in the sensations of the flesh and seeking rescue from the storm, reveled in the new feelings he’d awakened in her and accepted him into her body time and time again without consequence.
It was only as the wind quieted outside the small cottage and it no longer felt like the world was coming to an end that she opened her eyes to what she’d done.
Looking over at his sleeping face, she once again felt the clutching in her heart and for some unknown reason, tears once again flooded her eyes. She could not resist reaching out to touch the obstinate curl that laid on his forehead.
She heard movement outside, like someone coming towards the house and remembered time and place. She bounded from the bed as quietly as she could without waking him or jarring his wounded leg.
Her dress hung in tatters from her shoulders and she dragged it off quickly before finding a new one to pull on over her head.
She hid the torn clothing and took a quick look back at the sleeping form on the bed before hurrying from the room. She was just in time to greet the others as they came through the door.
She avoided her godmother’s knowing eyes and looked at the floor. “Looks like we have company.” Her head came up at the old seers words and she wondered how the old woman could tell.
She hadn’t left anything out in the open to give that away, but she should’ve known that she couldn’t hide anything from the old woman. Her face heated up as she wondered what else she’d seen.
“Did you catch that deer yesterday?”
“No ma’am! But…please don’t be upset. I know you don’t like strangers trespassing here, but he was hurt and alone and I had no choice.”
She rushed out an explanation and was surprised by the other two’s easy acceptance. The old seer nodded her head as she walked to the bedroom door to look inside.
“That’s fine. He has a fever you say? Now girl you know a fever that’s run that long is a danger. We’re going to need some ginger root and elder flowers. The rain has let up so the pass will be easy for you to climb.”
“But…it’ll take a whole day to reach.”
“I know so the sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll be back.” Bryony didn’t understand why she didn’t want to leave the stranger.
Somehow the thought of leaving his side made an ache start in her tummy and work its way up to her heart. But she knew there was no arguing with the old woman, and besides, those herbs were the best for bringing down his fever.
“Now go put on your brother’s clothes less you meet someone on the way.” It was something she always did when venturing that far away from home.
Not that anyone taking a good look would mistake her beauty for that of a man, but it gave her a sense of safety. And besides, she knew how to fight to protect herself.
She didn’t stop to think that by the time she returned the fever might already be broken, she only knew to obey. She missed her brother’s unusual quietness as well in her haste to get going.
As soon as she left the clearing the two who’d been watching from inside shared a look before turning to the room where the Emperor still slept soundly.
The old seer had told Des her plan on their trip to town and back. And though he’d fought and questioned the wisdom of her plan he knew that in the end he had no choice but to go along with what she said.
The old seer placed her finger over her lips and ushered Des from the room, pulling the door closed behind her. “Now remember what I told you. Do exactly as I said and all will be well.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing. I still say it’s too risky to take Mia…”
“Shh.” She hissed at him and threw a hurried look towards the closed door before pointing a finger towards the outside.
Des walked out of the cottage feeling miserable. Their trip into town had reminded him of what life used to be like before he came here.
He’d sometimes miss the light and laughter of the city, but was never willing to give up the safety of his little sister to return.
Sure, this is not what he’d seen for his future, but it was better than having her dead. He’d sometimes dream of the day of their triumphant return, but now that that day was fast approaching he wasn’t so sure.
He looked up to the sky that was finally clearing of the last remnants of clouds and said a fervent prayer that all will be well. At least for the first part of this plan he would be there to protect Mia. But he wondered what would happen when her memory returned,
He looked back at the cottage where the young Emperor slept. Now he understood his sister’s giddiness all those years ago. The thing that made her blush whenever he teased her about marriage to the Prince after years of her proclaiming that she’d never wed.
All he knew was that the Emperor had better take better care of her this time or he’d answer to him. No way was he taking her out of here to face that kind of danger again.
He walked back inside to get ready for the other half of this act in which he was to play a prominent part. If all goes according to plan, they’d be leaving here soon.
Emperor Jai
I woke with a splitting headache and thoughts of Mia. My heart raced as my eyes flew open wide. I looked at the bed beside me but she was no longer there.
I fought to remember everything about the night. Had it really only been just a dream after all? It seemed so real. I could still feel her, smell her.
But she was nowhere in the room. The door opened suddenly as if I’d made a sound and I held my breath braced for the sight of her. Instead an elderly woman entered the room with a cup of steaming broth in her hand.
“You’re finally awake young master.” I moved to sit up but pain shot through my head and my thigh.
“No no, don’t move or you’ll open that wound.”
“Where is she?”
“Who?” The old woman looked back behind her as if expecting to see someone standing there.
‘The one who brought me here.” It was on the tip of my tongue to say Mia, but I didn’t.
‘There’s no one here but my grandsons and I. The one who brought you here is outside and the other has gone to the mountains for medicine to help with your cure.”
I searched her eyes for the truth and saw no guile, though her words made no sense. And once my mind accepted that it had been nothing more than a dream I felt a loss so strong I rubbed a hand over my heart.
“Your grandson brought me here?”
“Yes, he found you hurt on the forest bed...”
“How long have I been here?”
“Not long, you just passed the night.”
Where were my men? Why hadn’t they come looking for me? I didn’t say anything out loud. She didn’t seem to know who I was and I wasn’t sure of the danger so kept quiet.
“Where is this place?”
“You wandered into the forbidden forest young master. It’s as dangerous as it sounds as you’ve learned. Not many venture her and live to tell the tale.”
“Lucky for you my grandson was out hunting deer that day and came upon you. Looks like a wild boar got after you. It’ll be another day or two before you can safely move that leg.”
She passed me the cup of broth which I studied suspiciously until the rumble of hunger gave away the fact that I was starving. “No need to worry, here we heal we do not harm.”
She smiled at me as she turned to le
ave the room. I sipped at the tasty broth until it was gone but now that my hunger had been satisfied I had another pressing need.
As if sensing this, the door opened once again and there was a man, not much older than myself standing there. “I imagine your need for the privy must be strong by now.”
Before I could answer I found myself being lifted from the bed and my protest fell on deaf ears as I was taken outside to the small outhouse where I was left to tend to myself.
When I was finished I was taken back to the cottage where there was a basin of water and a cloth waiting for me to see to my toilette.
The old woman seemed well versed in the art of healing, because no sooner would I feel a need than she was there to answer it.
When I felt stifled in the enclosed room that was no bigger than a privy closet in the palace, her grandson came in to take me outside to rest in a chair next to the cottage in the shade.
As I sat I watched him train in some form of martial art that I had never seen before. His fluid movements, and the swiftness with which he executed each move fascinated me.
As I watched him transfixed, I saw movement coming from the trees beyond. Before I could call out a warning, or move from my place as encumbered as I was.
Someone or some thing, came flying through the air and its feet landed in his chest, knocking him to the ground.
My mouth hung open in surprise as he rolled and got to his feet still with the same fluidness of grace and attacked what I now saw was a young boy.
It took me a while to understand that they were sparring as their blows were not meant to hurt but test. What’s more as good as the older man was, Desmond as his grandmother had introduced him, the newcomer was much better.
I sat as if at an exhibition in the palace, transfixed by the beauty of their movements. Why had I never seen this form of fighting before? How can I the Emperor not know that such a thing existed?
I felt movement beside me and turned to see the old woman standing there looking on with a smile on her face. “They’re very good aren’t they?”
Flower In The Palace Page 18
